American Heart Association wants to create army of CPR-trained rescuers

By Amber Baker

Published 2:12 pm, Friday, July 26, 2013

Photo: Courtesy Of Texas Heart Institut

Image 1of/3

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 3

Noah Lack used CPR to save the life of Donnie Migl when Migl suffered a heart attack while walking his dog.

Noah Lack used CPR to save the life of Donnie Migl when Migl suffered a heart attack while walking his dog.

Photo: Courtesy Of Texas Heart Institut

Image 2 of 3

Amber Baker, president of the American Heart Association.

Amber Baker, president of the American Heart Association.

Photo: Courtesy Photo

Image 3 of 3

Noah Lack, third from left, is shown with his parents, left, Jonathan Lack and Leslie Goldman, and neighbors Dianne and Donnie Migl. Noah used CPR, which he learned in school, to save Donnie Migl's life earlier this year when Migl suffered a heart attack while walking his dog in the Spring Branch area. less

Noah Lack, third from left, is shown with his parents, left, Jonathan Lack and Leslie Goldman, and neighbors Dianne and Donnie Migl. Noah used CPR, which he learned in school, to save Donnie Migl's life earlier ... more

Photo: Courtesy Of Texas Heart Institut

American Heart Association wants to create army of CPR-trained rescuers

1 / 3

Back to Gallery

In eighth grade, Noah Lack learned cardiopulmonary resuscitation in his Spring Branch Independent School District health class. He never dreamed the skills he learned that day would be put to the test so soon. Just a short time later, 15-year-old Lack saw neighbor Donnie Migl collapse from a heart attack while walking his dog in the neighborhood. Immediately, Lack knew to get help, check for a pulse and begin chest compressions. Lack's lifesaving efforts revived Migl; had he not learned CPR at school, his neighbor might not be here today.

Stories like Lack and Migl's powered the American Heart Association's vision to create an army of lifesavers by way of the Texas public school system. Last year, the nation's oldest and largest volunteer-led organization set out to ensure that every high school graduate knows the basics of CPR. To accomplish this goal, the American Heart Association worked with lawmakers Rep. John Zerwas, R-Simonton, and Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, to file HB 897, which would require quality CPR instruction to be taught between seventh and 12th grades in all Texas public schools.

Volunteers, staff and donors of the American Heart Association traveled from across the state to the Capitol to share personal stories, visit with lawmakers and help advance this piece of legislation that may one day help save the life of one of your family members. These efforts demonstrate that, as a volunteer organization, the American Heart Association does impact lives through science, research and advocacy.

On June 14, 2013, the Legislature enacted and Gov. Rick Perry signed HB 897 into law, making this journey a reality. Beginning with the 2014-15 school year, during a health or physical education class or even a special assembly, students can learn the CPR skills they need to help save someone's life in less time than it takes to watch a 30-minute TV show.

HB 897 will ensure students practice "hands-on" training with a manikin to learn the psycho-motor skills necessary to perform CPR. Additionally, the bill allows for collaboration with fire departments, EMS, hospitals, etc., to provide manikins along with the training. Any instructor or school district employee can also teach the course without holding certification.

More Information

To see a video about Noah Lack go to: youtube.com/watch?v= GmMUUkwEJdU

Other health measures

Newborn heart defect screening: HB 740, effective Sept. 1, 2013, will ensure screening for congenital heart defects for all babies born in Texas hospitals and birthing facilities. Heart defects are the number one cause of death for infants born with a birth defect.

Perhaps the greatest reward with the passage of this legislation is the addition of nearly 1 million CPR-trained Texas high school graduates across the United States every few years. Like Lack, students will now be ready, willing and able to act should they witness a cardiac emergency.

At the American Heart Association, we are reminded daily that cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, at any time. In fact, nearly 383,000 out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrests occur annually, and 80 percent of cardiac arrests occur at home. This means the life you save may be that of someone you love. What better reason to learn CPR now!

We encourage you to support this new legislation as well as your children's efforts to learn CPR. Sign up for a class and make sure the entire family is trained today. For information or to find a class near you, visit heart.org/houston.

Amber Baker is senior vice president of the American Heart Association.